Page 4 of Hell Breaks Loose

Which means that the gang that I used to do cleanups for, that I also on more than one occasion had to beat down, knows exactly who I am. And they want my blood.

Picking up the pace, I head up a level in the old, abandoned garage I holed up in last night.

After dark, it’s the worst.

But I am used to sleeping in tight spaces, keeping my senses alert for intruders. The downside of hiding out in such a dark place is that come the daylight, the druggie freaks start looking for places to hide from the sun.

Usually, I would have been out well before they could spot me.

Today, I overslept. A sign that I’m wearing thin.

I should head north, get into the mountains. I could probably get to my old place if I really made an effort.

There’s just one thing keeping me in the swamp that used to be Sanctum’s worst neighborhood.

I keep holding out hope that I will spot some sign of Evan.

That he survived.

Even if a part of me knows that he’s likely at the bottom of the bay, washed out to sea in the tidal wave of destruction that tore through the town that night. Still. I have to know.

Especially if I get back to Hellena, Tell, Ora. They need to know, too.

And I can’t quite face that fact that I couldn’t save him.

I keep searching.

Taking out the scum Ghosts when I can.

Thinning the herd.

“There! I saw him!” a raspy voice screeches.

“Shit,” I grit out, bolting through a broken wall, over a car, under a collapsed pillar. Need to get up, get out.

But not into the open.

They’ll have someone waiting up top for me.

I take another corner, grinding to a halt.

My breath and heartbeat pound in my ears. Go. GO!

Every ache and pain I’ve accumulated over the years screams at me to stop and rest.

“Come on, Eraser, do us all a favor and come say hi!” This time, the voice sends a shiver up my spine.

Fucking Sly.

I broke his hand and nearly killed him delivering the money Hellena owed to him.

Feels like a lifetime ago, even though it was just a few months back.

Guy holds a grudge. And apparently, he’s risen into a sort of leadership position over several droves of the filthy remnants of the Ghosts.

Started wearing a mask, painting his clothes like some icon.

Probably so they won’t murder him for more of whatever poison he’s peddling to his own guys. Whether he’s on the stuff or not remains to be seen. He sounds more coherent.

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